Eric Allen, the former Eagles All-Pro cornerback, elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

NEW ORLEANS — The long wait finally ended for Eric Allen on a week when the Eagles, the team that drafted him, are playing in the Super Bowl.

The former Eagles cornerback, eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame longer than the other 14 modern-era finalists for the 2025 class, was announced as part of a four-player class during the NFL Honors ceremony Thursday night.

Allen, who was in his 19th year of eligibility, was a finalist for the second consecutive season. The other three players in the 2025 class are Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, and Sterling Sharpe.

Eric Allen, 59, spent seven seasons in Philadelphia after being drafted in 1988 by the Eagles in the second round. He made an immediate impact, tallying five interceptions as a rookie and another eight in 1989, earning the first of his six Pro Bowl nods as well as an All-Pro selection.

Allen, a native of San Diego who played at Arizona State, spent 14 seasons in the NFL, joining the New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders after the Eagles. Allen led his team in interceptions seven times — four with the Eagles, three with the Raiders.

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He finished his career with 54 interceptions — tied for 21st in NFL history — and returned eight for touchdowns.

Allen, the 26th member of the Eagles elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was named to the Eagles’ 75th anniversary team in 2007 and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2011. He is the first Eagles cornerback to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Allen’s only issue with the long wait, he said, was that some of his former Eagles teammates that made up the “Gang Green” defense have passed away and couldn’t celebrate with him.

“Time in life, eventually the truth is going to be there,” he said. “We know so much about so many things because history, because we have time to massage it. The validation part, it didn’t validate me. But what it did validate was all those fans and the family and friends who continued to beat the door down after games.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 2.

“As we rightly celebrate his football legacy, we also recognize Eric as a special person who left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of crossing paths with him,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “He is a man of great character and integrity who earned the respect of his teammates, coaches, and Eagles fans everywhere.

“Eric has always been a Hall of Famer in my eyes, so it is exciting to know that he will now be officially honored among football’s all-time greats. We are beyond thrilled for him and look forward to celebrating with Eric and his family this summer in Canton.”

Allen got the news from a knock on the door from his former Arizona State teammate and Pro Football Hall of Famer Randall McDaniel.

“The moment was perfect, and I understand the recognition as far as being a member of the Hall of Fame,” Allen said. “You’re one of the best to ever do it. Those days, when you go on the football field, that’s the kind of mindset you have to have.”

Philadelphia native Jahri Evans was a finalist this year but did not get elected. Former Eagles linebacker Maxie Baughan, who passed away in 2023, did not make it either as a finalist from the seniors category.

Allen will be hoping to have the karma Brian Dawkins brought to the Eagles when he was announced as a member of the 2018 class just days before the Eagles beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Eagles staff editor Vaughn Johnson contributed to this report.